Known by his clientele as Abo Tawila, Beirut’s very own barber-on-a-bike pedals his way around Burj al Barajneh every day to find his next curbside cut. He proudly cycles through the hood with his insignia painted onto the back of his makeshift barber shop of a bike. Always dapperly dressed, the 18-year-old’s signature outfit is complete with suspenders and a straw fedora – embellished with pins that represent his favorite tools.
As Abo Tawila, who’s real name is Mohammad Khaled Jahjah, cycles around town looking for the next haircut waiting to happen, he cycles along behind him a handmade trunk that serves as his salon. Everything he needs to complete a curbside cut is there: his swanky style, his swift cycle, and, of course, a trunk complete with scissors, combs, razors, and brushes.
In Beirut’s past, the concept of a mobile barbershop was not uncommon – but now, Abo Tawila stands out as the only one of his kind in the city. He confesses he admires the antique feel of his ride and his equipment, and claims that should he ever be fortunate enough to open his own static barber shop, it will have a vintage feel.
Witty, trendy, and infectiously passionate, Abo Tawila has become a staple in his neighborhood, one that people are pleased to see and hail down, not just for a cut, but just to say hello. Abo Tawila takes phone calls from his neighborhood clientele and swiftly cycles over to them to give their hair a fresh new cut. Along the way, he passes others – eager for a cut, but less inclined to call, and just like that, he has a full day of hair cutting lined up for him. Abo Tawila cuts up to 30 peoples’ hair a day – filling his days with style and exercise, and most importantly, making himself and his clients very, very happy as he does it.
So happy, in fact, Abo Tawila swears that should he ever be fortunate to open his own salon, he’ll still stay loyal to his bike – because for him, that’s where it all began. Even if he prospers and makes enough money to abandon his two wheels, he won’t. The road to success may be long, but Beirut’s barber-on-a-bike doesn’t mind, he’ll take his time pedaling right to it, all the while enjoying the ride.
